Protesters took over Dublin’s Ha’penny Bridge on Thursday in an ongoing campaign to protest against Ireland’s housing crisis.

On the day the Government published their homeless figures for October, now standing at 9,724, Take Back The City, a group campaigning for better housing conditions in Ireland, took to the bridge to display a banner in protest of housing cuts that they say adversely effect women fleeing domestic violence.

Take Back the City protestors take over Dublin’s iconic Haepenny Bridge to protest housing conditions that they say adversely effect women fleeing domestic violence. Government figures released today say 9,724 people are currently homeless in Ireland, 3,725 of which are children. pic.twitter.com/qH6VdxdH5x

Michelle Connolly from the group said that the banner drop was part of the 16 Days Of Action Opposing Violence Against Women campaign.

“Domestic violence is a huge cause of homelessness, particularly among young families and women, many of the different groups who make up Take Back The City do tenant outreach and we are seeing people on a weekly basis who are homeless from fleeing domestic abuse,” she said.

“We also hear about people who cannot leave horrendously abusive situations because they have nowhere to go, there is nowhere for them.

“We try and highlight the various aspects of the housing crisis, and domestic violence is a very bad situation exasperated by the crisis.

“The services that are available for victims are horribly underfunded, they’re very good but there is just not enough of them, people are often turned away, there’s a lot of bureaucracy involved, some people cannot even get in because of red tape, so a lack of housing can mean there is literally nowhere to turn for some women.”

The group, of around 40 people took to the bridge with a megaphone shouting: “Housing is a human right” and “Leo, Leo, Leo, Out, Out, Out” before unfurling a banner on the bridge that read: “Housing cuts makes women bleed.”

The group say they have been supporting one family in particular who have fled their home due to domestic violence.

They claim the family have applied to be transferred to another area, but Dublin City Council’s housing department have yet to complete this process.

A statement provided by Take Back The City said: “Thanks to efforts by services and grassroots groups working with the family, they are now safely accommodated until Monday.

“We are giving Brendan Kenny, Head of Housing in Dublin City Council until 5pm on Monday December 3 to offer secure accommodation and exceptional grounds for a housing transfer.

“If the family don’t get this, further action will be taken.”

The number of homeless people in Ireland has jumped by 26 in the last month.

The overall number of people who have been left homeless in the run up to Christmas now stands at 9,724.

Join us tomorrow from 3pm at the Ha'Penny bridge for a really important banner drop and action.